The Black History of the White House (City Lights Open Media)

The Black History of the White House presents the untold history, racial politics, and shifting significance of the White House as experienced by African Americans, from the generations of enslaved people who helped to build it or were forced to work there to its first black First Family, the Obamas.Clarence Lusane juxtaposes significant events in White House history with the ongoing struggle for democratic, civil, and human rights by black Americans and demonstrates that only during crises have presidents used their authority to advance racial justice. He describes how in 1901 the building was officially named the “White House” amidst a furious backlash against President Roosevelt for inviting Booker T. Washington to dinner, and how that same year that saw the consolidation of white power with the departure of the last black Congressmember elected after the Civil War. Lusane explores how, from its construction in 1792 to its becoming the home of the first black president, the White House has been a prism through which to view the progress and struggles of black Americans seeking full citizenship and justice.“Clarence Lusane is one of America’s most thoughtful and critical thinkers on issues of race, class and power.”–Manning MarableDr. Clarence Lusane has published in The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, The Baltimore Sun, Oakland Tribune, Black Scholar, and Race and Class. He often appears on PBS, BET, C-SPAN, and other national media. Official Histories Of The United States Have Ignored The Fact That 25 Percent Of All U.s. Presidents Were Slaveholders, And That Black People Were Held In Bondage In The White House Itself. And While The Nation Was Born Under The Banner Of Freedom And Justice For All, Many Colonists Risked Rebelling Against England In Order To Protect Their Lucrative Slave Business From The Growing Threat Of British Abolitionism. These Historical Facts, Commonly Excluded From Schoolbooks And Popular Versions Of American History, Have Profoundly Shaped The Course Of Race Relations In The United States. In This Work, The Author Presents A Comprehensive History Of The White House From An African American Perspective, Illuminating The Central Role It Has Played In Advancing, Thwarting, Or Simply Ignoring Efforts To Achieve Equal Rights For All. Here Are The Stories Of Those Who Were Forced To Work On The Construction Of The Mansion At 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue And The Determined Leaders Who Pressured U.s. Presidents To Outlaw Slavery. They Include White House Slaves, And Servants Who Went On To Write Books, Secret Service Agents Harassed By Racist Peers, Washington Insiders Who Rose To The Highest Levels Of Power, The Black Artists And Intellectuals Invited To The White House, Community Leaders Who Waged Presidential Campaigns, And Many Others. Juxtaposing Significant Events In White House History With The Ongoing Struggle For Civil Rights, The Book Makes Plain That The White House Has Always Been A Prism Through Which To View The Social Struggles And Progress Of Black Americans. Introduction. Black People, White Houses -- A Declaration Of Independence And Racism : Founding Documents, Founding Fathers, And The Preservation Of Slavery -- Prelude : Oney's White House Story -- The President's House In The Home Of The Abolitionist Movement -- Prelude : Hercules' White House Story -- A White House Built On And With Slavery -- Prelude : Peter's White House Story -- Closed Doors : The White House And Presidents Of Slavery -- Prelude : Paul Jennings's White House Story -- The White House Goes To War : Rebellion, Reconstruction And Retrenchment -- Prelude : Elizabeth Keckly's White House Story -- James Crow's White House -- Prelude : Booker T. Washington's White House Story -- The 1960s And The Crisis Of Power : The White House And Black Mobilization -- Prelude : Abraham Bolden's White House Story -- Black Challenges To The White House : The Campaigns To Make The White House Black -- Prelude : Marcus Garvey's White House Story -- The Latest Political Milestone : The Obamas In The White House -- Prelude : Michelle Obama's White House Story. Clarence Lusane. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 523-540) And Index. Clarence Lusane is one of Americas most thoughtful and critical thinkers on issues of race, class and power.Manning Marable "Barack Obama may be the first black president in the White House, but he's far from the first black person to work in it. In this fascinating history of all the enslaved people, workers and entertainers who spent time in the president's official residence over the years, Clarence Lusane restores the White House to its true colors." --Barbara Ehrenreich The Black History of the White House presents the untold history, racial politics, and shifting significance of the White House as experienced by African Americans, from the generations of enslaved people who helped to build it or were forced to work there to its first black First Family, the Obamas. Clarence Lusane juxtaposes significant events in White House history with the ongoing struggle for democratic, civil, and human rights by black Americans and demonstrates that only during crises have presidents used their authority to advance racial justice. He describes how in 1901 the building was officially named the White House amidst a furious backlash against President Roosevelt for inviting Booker T. Washington to dinner, and how that same year that saw the consolidation of white power with the departure of the last black Congressmember elected after the Civil War. Lusane explores how, from its construction in 1792 to its becoming the home of the first black president, the White House has been a prism through which to view the progress and struggles of black Americans seeking full citizenship and justice. Dr. Clarence Lusane has published in The Washington Post , The Miami Herald , The Baltimore Sun , Oakland Tribune , Black Scholar , and Race and Class . He often appears on PBS, BET, C-SPAN, and other national media. The author of several books and former Introduction : Black people, white houses A Declaration of Independence and racism : founding documents, founding fathers, and the preservation of slavery Prelude : Oney's White House story The president's house in the home of the abolitionist movement Prelude : Hercules' White House story A White House built on and with slavery Prelude : Peter's White House story Closed doors : the White House and presidents of slavery Prelude: Paul Jennings's White House story The White House goes to war : rebellion, reconstruction and retrenchment Prelude : Elizabeth Keckly's White House story James Crow's White House Prelude : Booker T. Washington's White House story the 1960s and the crisis of power : the White House and Black mobilization Prelude : Abraham Bolden's White House story Black challenges to the White House the campaigns to make the White House Black Prelude : Duke Ellington's White House story The latest political milestone : the Obamas in the White House Prelude : Michelle Obama's White House story. Presents a history of the White House from an African American perspective, with information on such topics as slavery, the abolitionist movement, and African-American White House staff